Febrile Seizures

Definition

A
febrile seizure
is a convulsion (shaking, twitching, muscle tightness) or fainting associated with a fever. It occurs in infants or small children. This seizure is not associated with any other illness or medical condition except the fever.

There are two types of febrile seizures:

Simple febrile seizures:

Convulsions last between a few seconds to 15 minutes

Seizures are followed by a period of confusion and sleepiness which slowly goes away

Complex febrile seizures:

Last longer than 15 minutes

Occur more than once within 24 hours

Convulsions which affect only part the body

Febrile seizures can be alarming. Fortunately, children tend to outgrow these seizures. There is also a low risk for long term physical or mental disorders.

Causes

High body temperature due to a fever is believed to trigger the seizure. The fever is most often caused by common viral infections. Some febrile seizures may be caused by fever after routine
immunizations
.

Risk Factors

Age is the greatest risk factor. Febrile seizures occur between the ages of 3 months to 5 years. Most febrile seizures occur in children between 6 months to 3 years of age. In general, the younger the age that the first febrile seizure occurs, the more likely it is that a child will have another seizure.

There is some evidence that febrile seizures may run in families.

Symptoms

A seizure typically lasts a few seconds to a few minutes.
Signs of a febrile seizure include:

A fever, usually above 102°F (38.9ºC)

Convulsion—jerking or stiffening muscles

Abnormal eye movements

Coarse breathing sounds during the convulsion

Loss of consciousness

Loss of bladder or bowel control

Vomiting

Brief period of drowsiness or confusion following a seizure

If you suspect your child is having a febrile seizure, stay calm and follow these steps:

Unless the doctor has told you otherwise, call for emergency medical services.

Protect your child from physical injury. Place your child on the floor or bed away from any hard or sharp objects.

Protect your child's airway. Do not place anything in the mouth during the convulsion. Turn the child’s head or body to the side. This will allow saliva or vomit to drain from the mouth.

Watch the time. The length of the convulsions should be less than 5 minutes.

Diagnosis

Febrile seizure is diagnosed based on information about the seizure and your child's health.

Treatment

Children will eventually outgrow febrile seizures. The treatment goal is to manage fevers that may cause seizures. This may be done by treating the underlying infection. The treatments may include medication.

Medication

To address the underlying cause of fever your child's doctor may advise:

Antibiotics

Antiviral medications

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower the fever

Note
: Aspirin is not recommended for children or teens with a current or
recent viral infection. This is because of the risk of
Reye's
syndrome
. Ask your doctor which medications are safe for your child.

Your doctor may advise a rectal valium gel. This gel can interrupt seizures. It may be recommended if your child has frequent seizures and the seizure lasts more than 4-5 minutes.

Prevention

Fevers can happen suddenly. A seizure can be the first sign. As a result, there is no known way to prevent a febrile seizure.

References

Febrile seizures: what every parent should know. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/febrile-seizures.html. Updated March 2014. Accessed July 20, 2012.